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The 49ers‘ All-Pro inside linebackers, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, weren’t on the field by the end of the opening practice of the team’s three-day minicamp Tuesday, but both players’ absences were excused.

Bowman, who also missed last week’s practices, is away from the team while his girlfriend is expecting twins. Willis left practice early and flew home for personal reasons, according to a team spokesman.

About 45 minutes into practice, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh approached Willis on the field during team drills and pulled him aside. After a brief conversation, Willis jogged to the locker room with trainer Jeff Ferguson.

Rogers returns: Cornerback Carlos Rogers returned to the field in a limited capacity after revealing before practice that a calf strain had sidelined him for the majority of the team’s offseason workouts. Rogers took part in the beginning of team drills Tuesday and appeared to be moving well before he watched the rest of practice from the sideline.

Rogers had been present during the 49ers’ practices, often working out on a side field with a trainer. He didn’t specify if he had a workout bonus as part of the four-year, $31.3 million contract he signed in March, but he said his motivation for staying in Santa Clara wasn’t tied to money. Rogers said he often skipped offseason workouts – and missed out on bonuses – during his first six seasons with Redskins.

“Being with this team, I said, ‘I’m going to commit to it and be here this offseason,’ ” Rogers said. “Regardless of bonus, because I had bonuses in Washington, it doesn’t have anything to with that. I just decided to be here with this team and do my offseason program here. It’s been good.”

Praise for Boone, Moss: Offensive coordinator Greg Roman became animated when asked about the progress of Alex Boone at right guard. Boone appears to be the clear front-runner to win the starting spot that was vacated when Adam Snyder signed with Arizona.

“Just loves football, loves getting dirty in the trenches,” Roman said. “Man, he’s about what you look at when you look at a prototype offensive lineman. I call him a throwback.”

Roman used the same term when asked about wide receiver Randy Moss, who made two difficult catches along the sideline during Tuesday’s practice.

“He has really been as good as you could possibly ask for in terms of being totally engrossed in football,” Roman said. “He is a throwback. … We’ll all be better because of it. I’m truly impressed with everything Randy Moss represents.”

Injury notes: Tight end Delanie Walker went to the locker room early in practice, and later returned as an observer. If he was injured, it did not appear to be serious. … Cornerback Curtis Holcomb practiced for the first time since he tore his Achilles tendon during the first day of last year’s training camp. … Receiver Ted Ginn (undisclosed), guard Joe Looney (foot), linebacker Darius Fleming (ACL) and linebacker Cam Johnson (undisclosed) did not practice.